National news briefs

Disruption causes flight to turn around

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say two F-15 fighter jets escorted a commercial flight bound for Hawaii back to Portland International Airport after a passenger became disruptive.

A spokesman for North American Aerospace Defense Command says the fighter jets intercepted Hawaiian Airlines flight 39 at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, shortly after the pilot decided to turn around.

Keoni Wagner, vice president of public affairs with Hawaiian Airlines, says the passenger failed to cooperate with crew. He did not elaborate. Wagner says the plane landed safely in Portland and the passenger was removed. The plane was then refueled, and the flight departed again.

Polanski asks if he can avoid U.S. court

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Roman Polanski sent a letter from house arrest in Switzerland asking a Los Angeles judge to sentence him in a sex case without making him return to the U.S., but a ruling was postponed Wednesday.

The notarized letter signed by Polanski on Dec. 26 in Gstaad was filed by his lawyer. Deputy District Attorney David Walgren objected to Polanski's request and demanded he "show his face" in court before he was sentenced.

"The people are adamant that a fugitive not dictate the court's processes," Walgren told Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza.

The "Chinatown" director fled the U.S. in 1978 on the eve of sentencing after pleading guilty to one count of having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Espinoza accepted the letter but said he wanted to see legal briefs that state why sentencing Polanski in absentia was appropriate.

Fort Hood suspect to be evaluated

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The attorney for the Fort Hood shootings suspect says his client will be evaluated next month to determine his mental status that day and whether he's competent to stand trial.

Attorney John Galligan says prosecutors notified him that a three-person board of medical professionals has been named and will start reviewing documents in the case. He says that after the board finishes by Feb. 7, members will evaluate Maj. Nidal Hasan.

Galligan declined to release the names of the board members, who will report their findings to military prosecutors.

'Balloon boy' father says it was no hoax